As part of our mission to increase awareness about the services the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society provides to patients, we are distributing 3000 wristbands during our campaign--each one symbolizes a child diagnosed with blood cancer this year. On the back of the wristbands is a QR code that will take you to the LLS website to learn more about what LLS does and where your donations go to. 

We are encouraging anyone who receives a wristband to wear it for at least three days straight.  Every time you look down and see it, we hope you think of the families currently fighting cancer and what if it was your child, a niece/nephew, grandchild, sibling or friend. Cancer consumes your whole life and your whole family. 

​​​​​​​Please share a picture of you wearing the wristband to our Instagram page at @llsfightingforfamilies

Meet the LLS Fighting for Families team:

Mary Robinson, Team Leader, freshman, Prospect

Rory Andrlik, freshman, Naperville North  Rory's Fundraising Page

Maggie Winfied, junior, Prospect  Maggie's Fundraising Page

Lexie Bauer, sophomore, St. Francis Lexie's Fundraising Page

Emily (freshman) and Lauren (junior) Morton, Prospect  Lauren and Emily's Fundraising Page

Natalie (freshman) and Claire (junior) Stonitsch, Prospect  Natalie and Claire's Fundraising Page

Charlie Macaluso, sophomore, Naperville Central  Charlie's Fundraising Page

Marina Roe, junior, Prospect  Marina's Fundraising Page

Dakota Becco, junior, Prospect  Dakota's Fundraising Page

Emmett Kowall, freshman, Jacobs Emmett's Fundraising Page

Brooke (freshman) and Brandon (junior), Prospect  Brooke and Brandon's Fundraising Page

Ryan Sheehan, freshman, Prospect Ryan's Fundraising Page

Maddy Drury, sophomore, Hersey  Maddy's Fundraising Page

Jonathan Soriano, sophomore, Prospect  Jonathan's Fundraising Page

Aarav Dubal, sophomore, Vernon Hills  Aarav's Fundraising Page

Michaela Jackman, junior, Rolling Meadows  Michaela's Fundraising Page

Aleena Patel, freshman, Rolling Meadows  Aleena's Fundraising Page

Nora Montgomery, freshman, Rolling Meadows   Nora's Fundraising Page

As a fifteen-year-old freshman in high school, I know there are a lot of activities I could possibly be involved in.  I'm a cheerleader. I'm on the Associated Student Body. I bake for our family's charity, Made By Mary.

While there are lots of ways to get involved in activities, there are few activities that give high schoolers the chance to leave a real impact on people's lives. I'm signing up for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Student Visionaries of the Year Campaign because I know the money I raise will help give families more days together...more birthdays to celebrate...more memories. Blood cancers comprise approximately 40% of pediatric cancers. All of these kids deserve to grow up. I want to make sure that someday we can promise they'll be able to. 

My family has supported the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society since our nine-year-old friend, Molly, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2010 (this is a picture of me and my mom on team Marching for Molly at the LLS Light The Night Walk that year). Since then we have learned the stories of many other people in our community fighting blood cancers. Some of them are little kids like Dylan and James. Some of them are teenagers like Anya, Liam, Matt and Austin. Some of them are classmate's parents. Blood cancers affect so many people we know and love. I also know that blood cancer research has been used in clinical trials for other cancers and diseases including bone cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diseases like the one my mom has and lung cancer which my grandpa died from in May of this year. Your blood affects everything.

I'm lucky to say that this campaign won't help me directly but, the truth is, someday it could. 

As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS:

• Funds cutting-edge research leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients
• Provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more.
• Mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care.

Please consider joining my fight against blood and other cancers by making a donation. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. Please visit my website often and tell friends who would also like to donate!

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help ensure this generation is the last to see cancer.

On behalf of blood cancer patients everywhere, thank you!

For more information about LLS, please visit www.lls.org.